Federal Agencies Propose Sweeping Revisions To Endangered Species Act Regulations, Largely Reinstating 2019–2020 Framework

On November 19, 2025, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively, the Services) released four proposed rules that would comprehensively revise key federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations governing listing decisions, critical habitat designations, interagency consultation, and "take" protections for threatened species. The rules would largely restore the 2019 and 2020 regulatory framework adopted during the prior Trump administration — policies that were rolled back in 2024 by the Biden Administration.

According to the Department of the Interior's official announcement, the proposal is intended to "strengthen certainty" for regulated entities, streamline decision-making, and allow the Services to "better weigh the real-world impacts" of ESA regulatory actions. However, many environmental groups consider the proposed rules as a significant step toward weakening federal wildlife protections and